Display Inkjet Droplet Placement With Before-and-After Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies cannot check whether droplets impact the correct position during the printing process in manufacturing display devices, leading to potential misalignment and waste.
Innovation Solution
A droplet discharging apparatus with cameras positioned to capture images before and after droplet discharge, allowing real-time impact verification by comparing these images to ensure proper placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If real-time droplet impact monitoring is implemented during printing, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional cameras and image processing systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cameras as intermediary devices to capture images of the substrate before and after droplet discharge. These cameras serve as mediators between the printing process and the inspection system, enabling indirect observation of droplet impact without interfering with the printing process itself. The image processing unit then acts as an intermediary to compare the before and after images and determine whether proper impact occurred.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates optical copies (images) of the substrate at different stages of the printing process. Instead of directly observing or measuring the droplet impact, the system captures visual copies of the substrate before droplet discharge and after droplet discharge, then compares these copies to determine impact accuracy. This approach allows inspection without physical interference with the actual printing process.
2Productivity
If droplet impact inspection is performed during printing process, then productivity is improved by preventing waste, but loss of time increases due to image acquisition and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures the 'before' image of the substrate before droplet discharge occurs. This preliminary action of image acquisition allows the system to establish a baseline state, enabling rapid comparison with the 'after' image immediately following droplet discharge. By preparing the reference image in advance, the system minimizes the time required for actual impact verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements rapid sequential image capture, taking the 'before' image immediately before droplet discharge and the 'after' image immediately after droplet discharge. This rushing through the image acquisition process ensures that the inspection occurs so quickly that it does not significantly interrupt the printing workflow, allowing the system to verify impact and continue printing with minimal time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A droplet discharging apparatus may include a transfer part moving a substrate including a first target position in a first direction, an inkjet head disposed on the transfer part and discharging a first droplet to the first target position of the substrate, a first camera positioned in a second direction opposite to the first direction of the inkjet head, the first camera acquiring a first image corresponding to the first target position of the substrate, a second camera positioned in the first direction of the inkjet head, the second camera acquiring a second image corresponding to the first target position of the substrate, and an image processor receiving the first image and the second image, and comparing the first image and the second image to inspect a discharge state of the first droplet.